DIRECT OBJECT COMPLEMENT (COD)

The Direct Object Complement (DOC) refers to things or people that receive the
action of the verb performed by the subject.
It is a word or group of words necessary for the sentence to make sense.

Leo un libro = Un libro is the DOC

To correctly identify the COD in a sentence we usually ask the verb WHAT? and
sometimes WHO?

Escucha a su jefe = What does he listen to = A su jefe = COD

The listener

- COD pronouns are placed after the verb and separated in all tenses of the
INDICATIVO - SUBJUNTIVO and IMPERATIVO NEGATIVO.

Hacen deporte todos los dias

Sentence elements:
(They) = subject
do = verb
Sport = COD
Every day = Complement Time

If we replace the COD in that sentence with a pronoun, the sentence would be:

Lo hacen todos los días

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- But they are placed behind and form a single word in the IMPERATIVE
AFFIRMATIVE - INFINITIVE and GERUNDIUM.

Compra manzanas

Sentence elements:
(He or She) = subject
Buy = verb
Apples = COD

If we replace the COD in that sentence with the corresponding pronoun, the
sentence would be:

Có mpralas

Hay que hacer los exámenes

Elements of the sentence:

Hay que = subject
To do = verb
The exams = COD

If we replace the COD in that sentence with the corresponding pronoun, the
sentence would be:

Hay que hacerlos

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- With verbal periphrases (i.e. the combination of a verb plus infinitive, gerund or
participle), the COD can go in front of the first verb and separate or behind the
non-personal form and together forming a single word

Voy a comprar esa moto

Sentence elements:
I = subject
I'm going to buy = verbal periphrasis - combination of a verb + infinitive
That motorbike = COD

If we replace the COD in that sentence with the corresponding pronoun, we have
two options:

La voy a comprar
Voy a comprarla

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 INDIRECT OBJECT COMPLEMENT(COI)

The Indirect Object Complement (IOC) is the part of the sentence that informs
about the addressee or the beneficiary of the action of the verb.
It always has the prepositions "to" or "for".

Yo escribo a mis padres = To my parents is the COI.

This complement is usually a person but can also be a thing.

In order to correctly identify the COI in a sentence, we usually ask the verb
TO WHOM? and/or FOR WHOM?

Habla a su jefa - to whom is he speaking = to his boss = COI

Le habla

- COI pronouns are placed behind the verb and separated in all tenses of the
INDICATIVE - SUBJUNCTIVE and NEGATIVE IMPERATIVE.

He comprado un regalo para Ana

Sentence elements:
(I) = subject
They bought = verb
A present = COD
For Anna = COI

If we replace the COI in that sentence with a pronoun, the sentence would be:
Le he comprador un regalo

- But they are placed behind and form a single word in the IMPERATIVE
AFFIRMATIVE - INFINITIVE and GERUNDIUM.

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 Lee un cuento a los niños

Elements of the sentence:

(You) = subject
Read = verb
A story = COD
To the children = COI

If we replace the COI in that sentence with the corresponding pronoun, the
sentence would be:

Léeles un cuento

- With verbal periphrases (i.e. the combination of a verb plus infinitive, gerund or
participle), the COD can go in front of the first verb and separate or behind the
non-personal form and together forming a single word

¿Puedes enviar el paquete a Juan?

Sentence elements:
You = subject
You can send = verb periphrasis - combination of a verb + infinitive
The parcel = COD
To John = COI

If we replace the COI in that sentence with the corresponding pronoun, we have
two options:

¿ Le puedes enviar el paquete?

¿Puedes enviarle el paquete?

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¿HOW TO USE BOTH PRONOMS COD + COI TOGETHER?

The COI always comes first and then the COD.

These two pronouns are placed in front of the verb and separated with
INDICATIVE - SUBJUNCTIVE and IMPERATIVE NEGATIVE

Escribo un poema para ti

Sentence elements:
(I) = subject
I write = verb
A poem = COD
For you = COI

If we replace the COD and COI in that sentence with a pronoun, the sentence
would be:

Te lo escribo

IMPORTANT : For phonetic reasons in Spanish, the 3rd person COI pronouns LE
and LES are changed to SE when placed before a 3rd person COD LO - LA - LOS -
LAS.

Compro unos regalos para Ana

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Sentence elements:
(I) = subject
I buy = verb
Some presents = COD
For Anna = COI

If we replace the COD and COI in that sentence with the corresponding pronoun,
the sentence would be:

Se los compro

Le los compro - WRONG PHRASE

- They are placed after the verb and together in a single word with IMPERATIVE
AFFIRMATIVE - INFINITIVE and GERUNDIUM

Lee un cuento a los niños

Elements of the sentence:

(You) = subject
Read = verb
A story = COD
To the children = COI

If we replace the COD and COI in that sentence with the corresponding pronouns,
the sentence would be:

Léeselo

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Here, as it would be LO (the COD), the COI is changed to SE instead of LE.

- With verbal periphrases (i.e. the combination of a verb plus infinitive, gerund or
participle), the COD can go in front of the first verb and separately or
behind the non-personal form and together as a single word

¿Puedes enviar el paquete a Juan?

Sentence elements:
You = subject
You can send = verb periphrasis - combination of a verb + infinitive
The parcel = COD
To John = COI

If we replace the COD and COI in that sentence with the corresponding pronoun,
we have two options:

¿Se lo puedes enviar?

¿Puedes enviá rselo?

Here as we have LO (COD) we change the COI to SE instead of LE.